Sophie Hogan
@sophiehoganjourno.bsky.social
Science and education journalist. All views my own.
Thanks @sophieatrpn.bsky.social for covering this, glad to have had the chance to be heard (and remain so gutted we are losing the vital work of RPN)
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · last mo.Fewer, longer research grants ‘could exacerbate inequalities’. Science minister’s call for larger, longer-term investments prompts fears of benefits for “big hitters”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
So while UKRI talent funding is due to top £900m by 2029-30, taking up an ever bigger portion of overall spend, funding the next generation of researchers at the same level looks like a tough challenge Full story by @sophieatrpn.bsky.social and me: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
UKRI hiking spending to stem decline in newly funded PhDs - Research Professional News
Rising stipends partly behind steady fall in annual intake of doctoral students over 10 years
researchprofessionalnews.com
Was a pleasure to speak with @josefaschbacher.esa.int on all things European Space Agency last week!
Craig Nicholson@clanicholson.bsky.social · 4mo agoResearch Professional News is being closed down but for now we continue to report: Europe can use its growing autonomy in space-related activities to step up its ambitions for them, European Space Agency chief Josef Aschbacher tells us: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Food for thought on the charter announced today - the final observation in this morning's 8am Playbook (www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-he-govern...). It is of course welcome, but still a little way to go.
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 4mo agoOver 50 UK research bodies commit to better conditions for women. Government-led charter sets out measures including at least 52 weeks’ maternity leave and safer workplaces. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
London? He's going to LONDON? New Ivory Tower column up on @resprofnews.bsky.social news today ⬇️
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 4mo agoAndy Burnham’s Coronation (Street). In Ivory Tower this week, a new political soap opera begins with Andy heading off to that London. Free to read. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Lack of adjustments for parental leave in REF draws criticism. Funding bodies say move will “significantly” reduce the burden of the 2029 Research Excellence Framework. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Lack of adjustments for parental leave in REF draws criticism - Research Professional News
Funding bodies say move will “significantly” reduce the burden of the 2029 Research Excellence Framework
researchprofessionalnews.com
So 'limited' it reputedly entails making 25% of the History Department (which took how many additional students last autumn...?) redundant.... Is the targeting specifically directed toward top-performing departments, in a 'specific' effort to degrade the UK research base? Asking for some friends.
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 4mo agoUniversity of Exeter plans to cut 150 jobs. The Russell Group institution said it is consulting its staff over “limited and specific potential changes” across some academic faculties. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Exclusive: STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead. Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead - Research Professional News
Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers
researchprofessionalnews.com
Policy Exchange calls for a tiered system: "Regional" second tier unis would have fees capped at half the price of the "global" tier 1 institution fees, have a lower cap on international student places and would - crucially - not be allowed to participate in the REF. For @resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 5mo ago‘Only 22 UK universities should be allowed in REF’, says think tank. Policy Exchange report arguing most universities should refocus away from research garners right-wing support. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Government continues its AI push - but no confirmation on where the new site of the next national supercomputer is yet For @resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 5mo agoUK ministers announce ‘new £750m national AI supercomputer’ Plan also heralds doubling of AI Research Resource power and more PhDs in “critical fields”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-i...
British performance in Horizon bounces back to pre-Brexit levels. UK share of EU research funding rose in 2024, reversing downward trend since 2016 referendum. Good news! Free to read. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
British performance in Horizon bounces back to pre-Brexit levels - Research Professional News
UK share of EU research funding rose in 2024, reversing downward trend since 2016 referendum
researchprofessionalnews.com
UCU imposes ‘global academic boycott’ on Sheffield in pay row Union objects to withholding of pay after strike action, but university says few staff affected www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
UCU imposes ‘global academic boycott’ on Sheffield in pay row - Research Professional News
Union objects to withholding of pay after strike action, but university says few staff affected
researchprofessionalnews.com
Pretty notable how close government policy on R&D is to Mandelson's positions - Call for UKRI to be given more govt direction - Tying R&D funding more closely to economic growth - Call for a dedicated missions R&D fund All pre-dated Epstein revelations, but suggests how much influence he had
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 5mo agoUKRI lacks ‘heft and punch’, Peter Mandelson told Patrick Vallance. Disgraced former US ambassador pushed for more ministerial direction at national funder, new documents show. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor. Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-i...
Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor - Research Professional News
Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses
researchprofessionalnews.com
‘More radical’ approach urged to cope with rising research grant bids. Universities must help ‘limit the flow’ of applications as funders grapple with volume, experts say. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
‘More radical’ approach urged to cope with rising research grant bids - Research Professional News
Universities must help ‘limit the flow’ of applications as funders grapple with volume, experts say
researchprofessionalnews.com
Differences between disciplines regarding research ethics views pose questions for policy, study suggests www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Researcher ethics differences ‘pose questions for policy’ - Research Professional News
Large-scale survey finds discipline-related differences in views on “grey zone” practices
researchprofessionalnews.com
A pleasure to speak to Mike Ferguson for this one. Could PoC funding finally get its day? For @resprofnews.bsky.social
Robin Bisson@robinbisson.bsky.social · 8mo agoIs momentum building for a big increase in UK proof-of-concept funding? Leading biochemist Mike Ferguson told @sophieatrpn.bsky.social current PoC funding is "wholly inadequate" and there is "an ecosystem creaking at the seams with opportunity that needs to be de-risked just that little bit" ...
Some encouraging news for the Subscribe to Open publishing model today - this does go a year at a time, so we'll see what 2027 brings - but alternative OA methods are starting to catch on.
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 8mo agoLibrary support enables Royal Society open access shift. Eight subscription journals go fully OA during 2026 through subscribe to open model. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Another university has rejected Elsevier's deal, bringing the tally to 10 - quite a significant number. For @resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 8mo agoNumber of universities dropping Elsevier deal hits double figures. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
"Deeply concerning" stuff here from the Home Office figures, and considering the trend from the last few months, this fall shows no signs of stopping For @resprofnews.bsky.social
Robin Bisson@robinbisson.bsky.social · 8mo agoBleak Home Office stats on international student visa applications out today No escaping that numbers are sliding again. Will a poor January enrolment window push some universities to the brink? Story by @sophieatrpn.bsky.social: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Ninth UK university confirms opting out of Elsevier deal. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Ninth UK university confirms opting out of Elsevier deal - Research Professional News
Sheffield Hallam and Swansea are the latest to drop agreements with the publishing giant
researchprofessionalnews.com
UK government shelves international student target. Fresh international education strategy launched, but no goal on recruitment numbers. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
UK government shelves international student target - Research Professional News
Fresh international education strategy sets no goal on recruitment
researchprofessionalnews.com
2. There was an uptick in clinical trial applications to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in 2025 Since 2017 there has been a big slowdown in UK-based commercial trials, but perhaps a corner is being turned?
British clinical trial applications increase after downturn - Research Professional News
Uptick comes ahead of regulatory changes for “keeping the UK at the forefront of research”
researchprofessionalnews.com
Multiple surveys have found big proportions of UK unis (30-40%) cutting research support because of financial pressures Saving up problems for the future? @steverop.bsky.social tells @sophieatrpn.bsky.social “foundational things...which then might form the basis for future research” are being cut
Fears of lasting damage from cuts to academic research support - Research Professional News
Survey reveals “foundational” elements of future research are being scaled back, authors warn
researchprofessionalnews.com
'The ERC's credibility rests, to a large extent, on stable, independent and scientifically driven governance (…) shorter mandates would risk weakening the ERC’s capacity to pursue a coherent, long-term scientific strategy' 💬 says EUA's @kamilakozirog.bsky.social to @sophieatrpn.bsky.social
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 10mo agoCouncil’s move to shore up EU funders’ autonomy welcomed. But sector leaders less positive about other member state positions on future Horizon Europe. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Officially announced today: new deals between UK unis and 'big 5' publishers will trial removing article-processing fees from some journals, effectively making them free for both readers and authors @sophieatrpn.bsky.social was well ahead of the curve on this www.jisc.ac.uk/news/all/lan...
Landmark publishing agreements for UK universities - Jisc
jisc.ac.uk
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 11mo agoExclusive: Publishers to trial removing fees from some journals in UK deals. Agreements under negotiation will include open access pilots hailed as “fundamental shift in business model”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
· #AcademicSky · UK to rejoin Erasmus+: “an excellent early Christmas gift,” says president of @eua.eu, Josep Garrell. @sophieatrpn.bsky.social reports via @resprofnews.bsky.social
UK to pay £570m to rejoin Erasmus+ programme in 2027 - Research Professional News
Fee for EU student mobility programme lowered as part of deal, as sector celebrates re-entry
researchprofessionalnews.com
Exclusive from me for @resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 11mo agoExclusive: Publishers to trial removing fees from some journals in UK deals. Agreements under negotiation will include open access pilots hailed as “fundamental shift in business model”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Head of R&I Policy Julien Chicot shared our views on Horizon Europe's simplification efforts in @resprofnews.bsky.social profnews.bsky.social. Read the article by @sophieatrpn.bsky.social ⤵️
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · 11mo agoHorizon simplification welcome ‘if researchers gain more freedom’. But draft programme moves to step up lump-sum funding prompt warnings of risks for universities. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
